OK, not sure where to exactly begin here. Since the LRS and the .7 models were both purchased used, they didn't require any break in period on my end other than running each set of speakers for a few hours through some of the various tracks that I'm familiar with.
Some, at times, can be a bit critical of the piano performance on the magneplanar speaker. However, to my ears, I don't feel that the piano blends in the music I listen to are marred in any way. Others who listen to much more piano music might believe otherwise, and seek out a different speaker that's designed to portray the piano performance in a manner more suitable to their tastes.
Magnepan .7 speakers: The paper "specs" have this model digging a little bit deeper in the frequency response on the low end (45 Hz) while also a little more advance in the highs (22 kHz) as opposed to the LRS model. The sensitivity is the same as the LRS @ 86dB. The .7 speakers were utilized with the factory "L" brackets. These are "fixed" brackets and don't allow you any additional method of adjustment, aside from buying separate stands from Magnepan that keep the speakers straight up at a 90-degree angle. The factory "L" brackets have a slight slope to them, where the .7 model tilts back a few degrees.
Magnepan LRS speakers: The paper "specs" have this model capable of going down to 50 Hz, and 20 kHz at the upper again. Again, the sensitivity is 86 dB, the same as the .7 model. The LRS includes the factory "L" brackets and the speakers have a bit more of rear lean on them at the top when using the brackets in the standard position. However, the "L" brackets for the LRS do have a built-in square, bailing wire insert that you can flip down, and raise the rear of the "L" bracket stand up by about 1.5". This puts the angle of the LRS at approximately the same slope/angle that the .7 model features with the non-adjustable "L" bracket for that model.
Since my living room is 15' x 16', I initially felt that either the .7 or the LRS might be both quite suitable for my scenario. Also, I do have (2) 10" Monolith subs, with the ports currently plugged. Crossover functionality is set up via my Mini DSP 2x4 HD device to integrate the two subwoofers. When listening to the .7, I set the low frequency crossover to 42 and then 45 Hz with a 12dB slope. For the LRS listening, I set the low pass crossover to 50 Hz with a 12dB slope. In both of these listening situations, I didn't feel like the speed and performance of the subwoofer was lagging when compared to the speed of the sound from the Magnepan speakers. Some other reviewers and commenters have noted the difference in sound speed when it came to subwoofer integration. It seems than several listeners have preferred the use of the REL 7i sub for use with their Magenpans. This is the same subwoofer that I heard utilized in the dealer's showroom with the .7 model that I listened to last week.
I used the IOTAVX SA3 as my preamplifier, the Crown XLS1502 for my power amplifier, the Khadas tone board for my DAC and Amazon HD tracks fed through my Blue Sound Node 2i streamer. Some reviewers and commenters have had some solid opionions when it came to amplifiers for driving the Magnepan speakers. In some of the You Tube videos, Magnepan would utilize Bryston amplifiers for driving their speakers at the shows. At my local dealer, I heard the .7 model being driven by the Parasound A23x. Yet, to my ears, I don't feel that the Crown XLS1502 is a weak link by any sense. Though, given the number of times I've swapped gear in and out, I'd like to say I'm content with the Crown amp - but, hints of finding a Bryston, a Parasound or even a higher-end Emotiva model have crossed my mind here and there. For now, though, it's the Crown that's in place and being utilized.
Listening impressions:
The LRS present themselves with a bit more "sizzle" at the upper end of the frequencies when compared to the .7 model. Or, that's how my ears interpreted it. I'd be hard stretched to indicated I could hear any difference between the lower ends of the LRS and .7, given the 5 Hz frequency difference, on paper. Though, with the .7, I did find that the mid-range had a bit of a better presence. Yet, I'm not faulting the LRS as being deficient when it comes to mid-range frequencies. It is still a quite pleasant sounding speaker. At $650, the LRS is truly a hard to beat speaker. $650 is the base price of the speakers. If you buy from Magnepan, you'd pay for the shipping to get the speakers to you. While if you buy from your local dealer, then Magnepan ships the speakers to your dealer and you pick them up, the dealer will usually absorb the shipping fees, but you'll then be responsible for the state sales taxes, if your state has a sales tax. So, it's essentially a toss up in cost. Also, Magnepan tries to encourage you to utilize the local dealer, wherever possible. In my case, my local dealer wouldn't really handle the LRS transaction because of the delayed build and delivery time of the LRS, which was why I reached out to Magenpan for quote.
I actually posted the LRS for sale, locally, today before receiving shipment of them as I thought the .7 was going to be my "keeper". However, I'm not so sure at the moment as to which I may keep as many more speaker swaps between the LRS and .7 are in order for the rest of today, tonight, and tomorrow to allow me to get a better grasp of which one I might prefer more. However, given the LRS @ $650 and the .7 @ $1,450 - new purchase prices, the LRS really isn't a slouch in any way. Clearly, Magenpan came up with the LRS as form of a "loss leader" to allow a buyer to get their foot in the door with a pair of Magenpan speakers. Is the $800 price difference between the LRS and the .7 model truly justified? Well, it can depend on many variables - room size, budget, etc. Though, I have a feeling for most buyers, the $800 might be utilized towards other gear upgrades of you opted for the LRS model. But, if one really had a thirst for a stronger mid-range presence, the .7 would the better option to reach for.
All of my listening was done with the tweeter configured on the inside position of the speakers, as opposed to swapping the L/R speakers to have the tweeters positioned on the outside edge of the speakers. I initially set my .7 model up yesterday with the tweeters on the outside, but switched later in the day and preferred them on the inside position for more intimate listening by myself. However, if you were going to play either speaker for a larger group of listeners, then one might opt to have the tweeters on the outside for those listening scenarios.
Pictures:
The thumbnail pictures I've attached to this post reflect the visual size differences between the .7 and LRS models. The LRS is covered with the black grill cloth and has the cherry red side inlays. The .7 model has the dark grey cloth grill with silver side inlays. Please click on the thumbnail to view a larger resolution of the image.
(1st picture: the LRS and .7 model to reflect size differences, 2nd picture: the .7 model, 3rd picture: LRS model).
